The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-25
TWENTY NILES OF FIRE,
STRETCHING OUT re THE SEA
FROM MAUNA LOA,
Which, Accompanied BY Earth
quakes, Began Vomiting on the
18th Of January,
CONTINUING TO THROW LAVA
FOR TWO DAYS.
A Sight Awful and Overwhelming
In Its Grandeur and Maya n.
eence-NeW Land Made.

SAN FRANonoo, CAL, February "a.
The steamer Australia arrived this
morning, Bringing full particulars OF q
great lava flow from Mauna Loa The
sight is described as magnificent aud
beyond description. A column Of fire.
was first observed from the summit a
the crater on the night Of January
10th. The fire died down before II, d.
night, but great volcanic disturbance
followed in quick succession up
to the night OF the 18th, when fi-e
and lava again burst forth rom tuia
mountain side. The length cf tllw is
estimated at twenty miles. THIS dis
lance the lava accomplished in two
deye, spreading as 1t descended, reach
ing the sea on the evening of January
20Ib. The stream of lava continued
10 how without interruption till the
Goth, when river of fire burst forth,
following the line OF the lava flo v.
When the fires and fame went ou',
the heavy : rhquakes ceased, al
though sli9ht tremors were felt at in
tervale thereafter.
At 2;S0 O'Clock am. the liquid fire
belched forth from a crater far above
to a hight Of $50 feet.
M Benson travelled to the head OF
the Il w on the 3lst. He describes it
as follows: "In the center of great
masses Of rough, black lava was q
crater OF about l25 feet circumference,
around which a ci,cle Of living fire
fnrnoad at ;ntaryalo About QlN
yards below the crater molten lava
poured fourth in streams from
fisIures in the mountain side. Numer-
Gus other smaller cra,ers also emitted
smaller streams Of lava, and at times
the entire group of craters shot forth
huge tongues OF fire simultaneously,
followed by immense stI cams OF lava.
These demonstrations continued at iu-
tervals for some time.
The Rev. &. e Bishop, we'll known
in the scientific world, visited the
scene February LIST, after the rush of
fire was over. He writss as follows:
"The northwest side OF the flow pre-
sents q straight, solid embankment
forty feet high and in some places one
mile aud half wide. The flow over
reaches the original coast line from
200 10 500 feet, making thirty acres Of
new land. One can perhaps partially
imagine that tide OF fire; rocks near q
mile wide rolled for week over the
shore into the deep and convulsive
ocean. have not the powers OF i'm
agination to convey the awful splendor
OF the downward charge OF that
mile bread deluge Of fire, nor the hor-
ror Of the tornado clash and roar with
which that vast wall of rolling rock
aud cinder pressed forward over the
land, piling upon the plain and crash
ing into the sea. saw but tead and
dying remsins, dreadful, dark and
silent"
Mr.. Fishop states that the preFept
flow is much greater in quantity than
that Of 1868, being twics the length of
the latter and of greater depth, He
also calls attention to interesting vol
canic facts observed in steaming
around the south point OF Hawaii.
This was remarkable surface layer OF
yellow ochrs or similar. matter many
feet in depth. He believes this to be q
layer of yellow ashes distributed from
come eruption, probably thousands of
years ago. Referring to this discovery
he states: eve are thus enabled to de-
termine remarkable and important
facts that at recent period, although
prehistoric, there was an explosive
of yellow clnder, which
covered at least 100 square miles with
ashes several feet in thickness"
He concludes: 81 hereby file my
caveat for this discovery in case no
one has recorded patent Of prior
date"
Judge D. II. Hitchcock writes under
date OF February Sd from Hilo: ave
are experiencing slight shocks almost
evere day or night. A very heavy
fall Of volcanic smoke hides Mauna
Loa from here. II there were no fur
ther volcanic action there the smoke
would all be blown to the sea by the
strong winds which have been blow
ing the past week. As it is, feel az
though the end OF the flow was not
vaf -